Eaton Bank Academy is celebrating an outstanding set of GCSE results, with nearly 50 top grade 9s awarded to students. Headteacher Ed O’Neill commented: “I would like to congratulate all of our GCSE students; we are extremely proud of their results and their success is testament to their hard work and commitment. Our results across the curriculum are brilliant and a fabulous reward for our students' efforts.”
Students performed exceptionally well across all subject areas, with particular success in Maths, English and Science subjects. An impressive 84% of students passed GCSE Maths with a grade 4 to 9 (equivalent to a C plus GCSE grade) with 30% passing at the higher grades of 7 and above. Across the whole year group, the Maths results continue to be very strong, with students achieving an average grade 5. Science students once again excelled with 96% of both Biology and Chemistry students, and an outstanding 100% of Physics students, passing their exams at grade 4 to 9.
Students also achieved notable success in the English and Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Faculty where 86% of students passed English with a 4 to 9 grade and the average pass rate for all students was an excellent grade 6. MFL students also achieved an average grade 6 pass across French, German and Spanish, with Spanish linguists achieving a notable 100% grade 4 plus pass rate.
There was also success in The Performing Arts Faculty where 70% of Music students, 71% of Dance students and 81% of Drama student passed at a grade 4 and above. Art students also achieved an exceptional 87% grade 4 plus pass rate and PE students performed well, with 84% of students passing with a grade 4 and above.
One of the highlights of the results was the increase in the number of students achieving an exclusive grade 9. Across 16 subject areas, 48 grade 9s were awarded to students demonstrating the highest level of academic excellence. In particular, students excelled in science subjects with 12% of both Chemistry and Physics students and 8% of Biology students achieving the prestigious top grade.
Individual high achievers included Morgan Smith who was “delighted” with his eight grade 9s. Morgan now plans to study A-Level English Literature, History and Economics at Eaton Bank Sixth Form, with the ultimate ambition to go to Oxford University and study Law.
Top grades were also achieved by Joe Robinson whose results included six 9 grades and Cerys Griffiths, who was “delighted, shocked, happy and relieved” with her results, which included four grade 9s and five grade 8s. Kate Sherman also excelled, achieving top marks across all her subject areas including six grade 9s.
Ayesha Lafferty described her results as a “really nice surprise” and was delighted that the “hard work and revision has paid off”. In September, Ayesha will be joining Eaton Bank Sixth Form to study Biology, Chemistry and Maths. Sam Reynolds will also being joining Eaton Bank Sixth Form after achieving an impressive four grade 9s and two grade 8s. He plans to study History, Geography and Sociology with the ambition to becoming a teacher.
Grade 9s were also in abundance for Imogen Bruce who achieved five of the very top grades and three grade 8s in her set of results. Imogen was “ecstatic” and delighted her hard work and late nights revising had paid off! Imogen thanked her teachers for going “above and beyond” in their support throughout her Year 11. She now intends to study Physics, Maths and Geography A-Level and hopefully, continue her passion for STEM subjects with a career in engineering.
Another student with a flair for STEM subjects is Connor Cassidy, who gained top grade 9s in Maths and Physics. Connor will now be studying A-Level Maths, Further Maths, Computing and Physics at Eaton Bank Sixth Form. Kailumb Harding “couldn’t complain” about his grade 9 in Maths and hopes to eventually become an architect. He described his Maths teachers Mr Moult, Mr Bollan and Mr Ayebere as ‘great teachers” who had helped him have a “brilliant experience” and contributed to his love of maths.
Mr O’Neill concluded “Today has been a wonderful day for Eaton Bank Academy. I am proud of the level of aspiration and determination our students have demonstrated throughout their time with us and I also proud of the rounded individuals they have become. We now look forward to welcoming the majority of our students to our successful Sixth Form to continue their studies. On behalf of our staff I wish all of them all the very best as they enter the next, exciting phase of their lives”